BEIRUT: Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Sunday that his ministry was committed to the implementation of a series of reforms, ranging from electoral issues to administrative and security levels.Charbel said his ministry was looking to recruit more members to the Internal Security Forces, which he said lacks the necessary numbers and equipment to effectively protect security across Lebanon.

“We are seeking to recruit members as soon as possible to reassure the Lebanese,” Charbel said, in an interview with Lebanon’s state television.

This increase in security personnel would allow the ministry to boost its presence in prisons, according to Charbel, and especially at Roumieh, the country’s largest, which has been the scene of several riots and escapes in recent months.“The first of new members to graduate would be transferred to Roumieh and those who graduate later would be assigned to police stations and to the traffic force,” he said.

Charbel, who also discussed an increase in staffing levels and improving equipment of security forces during the government’s previous meeting, said that he would propose a draft electoral law during the Cabinet’s next session.Charbel said last week that the committee tasked with preparing the electoral draft law has almost finalized its work, adding that the draft law would call for a system of proportional representation.This system, Charbel said, is the most democratic.Charbel said that although the majority of political parties support the adoption of the proportional system some still disagree over many particular aspects of the law.

With the exception of the Progressive Socialist Party, all major political factions have so far approved the adoption of proportional representation but are still debating the size of electoral districts, among other aspects of the law.PSP leader Walid Jumblatt has openly criticized proportional representation, arguing that it weakens minorities.